Harvester



Nov. 22, 1949 Original Filed Dec. 23, 1942 A. E. W. JOHNSON ETAL HARVES'IER 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 22, 1949 A. E. w. JOHNSON ETAL 2,488,543

HARVESTER Original Filed Dec. 23, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwzodd 2? 20. dbkms' n Patented Nov. 22, 1949 HARVESTER Arnold vE. W. Johnson, Oak Park, 111., and Charles Crumb, deceased; late of Clarendon Hills, 111., by 'Helma 'Kath'erine Crumb, administratr'ix, 'Clarendon'Hills; 111 assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Continuation of application Serial N0. 469370; December 23, 1942. Thisapplication June '16, 1945, Serial Nof599Q-803 This-application is a continuation of our :copending application-Serial N0. 469, 87-0g-filed1Decem'ber 23, 1942, for -I-Iarve's'ter; a;llowed .December 23, 1944, and the invention hereintzrelates to a harvester. vention is concerned 'withimprovements in means for supporting the-.harvester'structureland with means .for the dischargertof harvested :m'aterial.

In one form of iconverrtional harvester of the windrower type, the :harvested material :is .cut, deposited upon the later-ally. running apron, and dischargedin windrows at one .end of the .machine. Several disadvantages are inherent-in an arrangement of this type, especially 'whenxthe harvester is drawn by a tractor, .in which case it has been found that the tractor wheels run down the stubble generallyatthe discharge-end of the harvester apron. This .results in'thezdischarge of material into the. .=rutsformedby-lthe tractor Wheels, with :the .result'that :the "windrow does not dry properly and'it is :difiicult toppick up or gather the material:sodischarged;

Constructions have heretofore been provided for the discharge :of material rearwardly .of zthe harvester, so that the -.discharge occurs upon stubble that has not been previously broken down by tractor or harvester wheels. However, because of certain fundamental characteristics .of the design of harvesters ingeneraLkthesegdischarging means .have .proved unsatisfactory. The principal object of .the present-invention is to provide improved meansfor thedischargin of harvestedmaterial.

An important objectis.toprovidefortheldisqcharge of material rearwardlyof 'theiharves'ter .and in such .a position that the material is not affected by travel of either the harvesterpnit's draft vehicle.

Another object of theinverition "is toprov'ide an improved discharge means vfor ,a"'harves'te'r of the type in which the harvesting platform"is supported on a transverse support,ithe discharge means being so arranged as' to discharge material over and rearwardly of the support.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved driving meansforfthe' various'parts'o'f the harvester.

A still further'object-of the inventionfis-to-provide improved supportingmeans for the'ha-rvester platform and preferably to provide-this supporting means in" the' f0rm of' atra'nsverse torsion-resisting member arranged between 'thelongitudinally spaced front and rear portions of the More particularly, :thexinguards [5. The grasswar'd end .13 Claims. (Cl. 56-486) be substantially torsionally balanced on the supe :porting. member.

J-Further objects of .thexinventionv areitoassoci- .ate the discharging .means with the last-mentioned construction and ::to "provide improved driving means for thedischarge means and other parts of the harvester.

Other objects and desirable'features of the invention will becomeapparent as the disclosure is :more fully made in the following detailed description and accompanyin she tsof drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan "view of one-form of harvester embodyiuga preferred :formof the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vsectional viewhtaken substantially on the line..2-.2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3. is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure -1;

Figure ,4 is a: plan view of oneend of a :harvester embodying .a modification of theimproved supporting means'for the [harvester platform;

and

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Eigure 4.

The .principles of the present invention may be suitably. embodied. in various .forms .and it-will he, therefore, appreciated that the following description and illustration ofthe invention are only representative and not limiting.

The harvesting machine shown iniEigure 1 includes a generally transverse harvester-platform structure [0 having a transverse front ifr'aml member Ill anda transverserear'frame member I2. The harvesting mechanism, generallyindicated at [3, is carried atthe ,frontedgelofthe platform structure and includes'a sickle l4 and of the Platform carries the usual divider 'l B. p

The'platform is mounted adjacent 'itsrear edge ona transverse support in the form, ofa torsiontube H. "Thelgrassward end ofthe'tube is car- ;ried on wheel structure 3. This structure. in-

cludes frame members l9 extending under "and secured to the platform-structure Ill, and a supporting "wheel "20 "carried on-a transverse stub axle '21. structure l'8 are suitably braced by braces "-22.

The "platform structure and frame The stubbleward end of'the tube 'fl 'is=carried on supporting structure 23 very similar to' the structure 18. This structure includes a supporting wheel -2 carried on a :transverse aXle :25, .-and "frame members =2fi -extend 'from the axlecforward- 1y under an-extension. 21 a of :the "platform struc harvester platform, whereby theplat'form willififi I ture "I 0. I

' tion,

the torsion tube I1.

An inside divider 28 is located between the platform structure 10 and its extension 21. Frame members 29 are connected between the platform structure It and the extension 21 to provide structure at the stubbleward end of the platform for connection to a forwardly extending hitch 39. The hitch is connected to the framework 29 for pivotal movement with respect thereto generally about a transverse axis provided by pivot pin connections 3|. A conventional form of hand lever 32 is provided for the purpose of adjusting the relationship between the hitch 3i) andthe platform 10.

The inner and outer ends of the platform are provided with suitable supports 33 for supporting a transverse harvester reel The reelincludes a shaft 35, at the inner or stubbleward end of which is keyed a driving sprocket 35. The structure just described may be generally conventional and has therefore been illustrated rather schematically.

The axle 25 of the ground wheel 24 drives a sprocket 31 which, through a driving chain 38, drives a sprocket on an intermediate shaft 39. A second sprocket on the shaft 39 is connected by a drive chain 40 to the sprocket 36 on the reel shaft 35. This mechanism provides a ground drive for the reel 34.

The harvester may be drawn by a tractor or other vehicle having a power source, such as a power take-off. In such case, the power take-on, not shown, has adapted for connection thereto a longitudinally extending power shaft 4| connected by a universal joint 42 to a crank-shaft 43 supported by the platform extension 31. A pitman 44 is connected between the crank-shaft 43 and the sickle 14 of the harvesting mechanism I3. The sickle is thus power driven.

The platform I includes laterally running conveyer means comprising a transverse endless apron 45 carried on and trained about a longitudinal roller 46 at the grassward end of the platform. A second roller 41, paralleling the 'roller 46, is journaled in bearings 48' and 49, carried respectivey by the front and rear frame members II and I2 of the platform structure it '(see Figure 3). As best shown in Figure 1, the

roller 41 is located a substantial distance grasswardly of the stubbleward end of the platform structure. .Thus, the apron 45 does not extend entirely across the harvester platform as is the case in most conventional harvesters.

Material thus harvested by the harvesting means I3 is delivered laterally toward the stubbleward end of the platform. According to the present invenmeans are provided for receiving the harvested material and for discharging said material rearwardly, preferably over and rearwardly of the torsion-tube l1 and between the supporting wheels 20 and 24.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the discharge means comprises a longitudinally running, endless conveyer or apron 50 carried on and trained about a front roller and a rear roller 52. The front roller is journaled in the platform structure [0 closely adjacent the transverse frame member II. The rear roller 52 is carried on'a' transverse shaft 53 located rearwardly of This shaft is journaled in brackets 54 and 55 extending rearwardly of and secured to the platform structure In and/or the torsion-tube l1. It will be noted from an examination 'of Figure 3 that the roller 52 is so located and is of such size that the apron 50 has end plate 56 is disposed at the stubbleward side of the apron 45, so that grain or other material discharged onto the apron 50 by the apron 45 butts against the plate to be arranged for discharge in such manner that the heads of the grain dispose themselves at the upper portions of the windrow. This provides for the proper drying of the grain before it is gathered or picked up.

Another important characteristic of the present invention is the means for driving the aprons 45 and 50. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the grassward wheel 20 drives a sprocket 51 which, through the medium of a driving chain 58, drives a sprocket 59 carried on a shaft 60 journaled in a supporting plate El. The plate 61 is rigidly carried by the platform structure In and the supporting structure l8. The shaft 60 is associated with slip clutch mechanism 62 for a purpose to be described subsequently.

The plate 6i has journaled therein an upper shaft 63 and a lower shaft 64. The shaft 63 carries a pinion 65, and the shaft 64 carries a pinion 66, both of which mesh with and are driven by a gear 61 on the shaft 60. The upper shaft 63 is connected by a universal joint to a transversely extending shaft 68 generally paralleling a rear wall portion 69 of the platform structure ID. The other end of the shaft 68 is connected by a universal joint to a stub shaft 10 journaled in a bracket 1| carried upon a rear portion of the platform structure. A bevel gear 12 on the shaft 10 meshes with and drives a bevel gear 13 that is connected with and drives the inner roller 41 of the platform 45.

The lower shaft 64 is connected by a universal joint to a shaft 14, this shaft generally paralleling the shaft 68. The other end of the shaft 14 is connected by a universal joint to the shaft 53 that carries the rear roller 52 of the apron 50. In this manner the aprons 45 and 50 are driven from the outside ground wheel 20. The slip clutch 62, associated with the driving shaft 60, provides for the necessary slippage in the event that some portion of the driving mechanism becomes overloaded. The slip clutch functions also to prevent driving of the shafts 68 and 14when the wheel 20 rotates rearwardly, as when the harvester is turned to the right.

As previously stated, the platform structure includes a rear wall portion 69. This is generally conventional construction. In the present case, however, the wall 69 is only coextensive with the apron 45 and terminates thereat to provide a discharge opening at the rear of the machine through which the apron 50 discharges harvested material, as set forth above.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5, the harvester is provided with an improved supporting means for the platform.

This form of the invention also embodies mech- 4 islocated 8,2, and roruati iars; v I V structure. is substanti h torsionally balanced" on o, am r tur 5' s peqr e f nj a round. wheel 86,. Theflfra ne structure. 85am! platform stru ture re i ta fl BIOJfJ'Qn l epro er s n I h eo A hitch s1 is' connected 'to the platform struc ture in much the same marinenasf thehitch; 30 offthenr ousl e b ibd "q tr A; harvester reel BB HnCIudin'g ashafft t9; is I I A BIITat the-innen t s fi e Iii li be" understood that V the ou er endof theyreel is similarly supportedand als'dthatthe outer -end; of the platform structure is carried on, the tor u ab y u p r e' 'fon, a S fi end of the harvester platf sion tube an'da g'roundfwheeYs'imilanto the round wheelflfi, Apower shaft 9| similar-to the power-shaft previouslydescribed; is connected by a universaljoint tda shaft92; This shaft extends longitudinally of the platform structure" an d is 'rotatably carried thereby. The forward portion'of theshaftffl includes a crank 93 that is connected to spawn 94. The pitm'an isconnected wand reciprocatesa-sickle 95 of;

harvesting mechanism- 96. The rear end of the shaft 92 is associatedwithsuitable gearing, not shown, in a ge'ar boX 91 attlie rear of themachi 'ne. This results in the driving; of a transverse shaft 98 located just ahead ofthe WheeI-BGe Theshaft '98 carries sprocket-"that drives adrive chain 99- which in turndrives asprocket on the reel shaft89. The construction thus'far described diiTer's from that previously-described in the supporting of the platform and 'the driving of-the reel by power:

The platform structure carries front. and rear: rollers I-UO-and I Il-Ifof a rearwardly running apron I I12. This apronand itsrelationship-to the -apron 8| is similar to the apron mandate relationship to'the apron 45, previously-described. Theroller I'M is carriedon ashaft I03-rearwardly of and paralleling the transversevdriving-ushaft mla The roller is soflocated and of such -size that' -the apron I02 has its upper runipassingover and itsdower run'pa'ssin'g under bothithe' shaft. and the-tor sionr-tub'e 84. The torsionstube: carries abracket.

I04 onwhich is journal'ed: an idler 1'01182105101 the purpose of maintaining theIlowen-run. of the apron. I02 iawayufror'n. the torsion-tube 8!.

The. apron BJI. includes aniinner roller I06 having at; its rear.endlfatibevel pinion I01. A bracket III8 journalsc'thereinlastub shaft. I09 having at one end thereof a bevel pinionszl land at its other end a driving pulley] I I. The grassward end of theshaft 'lfl3of theroller IOI carries a similar driving puIIeyHIIZ and the grassward end of the shaft 98 also carrie driving pulley II3. A driving belt I 143 train ab the pulleys III', fl 2, and "-II3 'Thusfihe aprons 8| and I02 are power driven by power shaft 9Ii ihrough medi m r h i aitsm m ss th r d ai of qil imq i lu f m difica- 'tion: just. described are similar vte: those of the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that improved harvester constructions have been provided. As stated above, the important fea- Lea. iii emempe o at he la o fi ile d o the" l t orm;

support 'for the harvester swarm, -the driving means h p pa ts-"ofathe"machine; and

the improved supporting means of--the harvester platform. Various other} details of construction and modifications willundoubtedlysuggest-them-I l i e h e killed: n h ia 'fi; n inot intendedby the disclosure to Iimit-the scope of'the invention. i

W ti lai ed. s

1 For a harvester having a pair of transversely spaced supporting wheels, a transversely disposed torsional support carried by the wheels; a platfqrm carried forwardly ofandbysaid -si n iport, harvesting; means at; the forward end-'ofthei platform, and: a transversely running; apron on the platform between the" harvesting means; a gue n on q reqeiv' lt v$; he harvesting means anddisposed' to conveysaid crops transversely; a-"lo'ngitudinal rearW'ardIy'Q running endless apron disposed-toreceive cropsfrom the first apron and arranged-with its-upper run passing over and jrearwardly of the torsionals support and-its lower run passing below the sup; port;- whereby crops'will be discharged overthe support and upon the ground rearwardly of the support.

2.'For a harvester having a. pair: of transv versely spaced supporting wheels; a transversely; disposed torsional support. carried by-the: wheels, a platform mounted substantially centrallw thereof-- on said torsional support, harvesting means on theforward endof; the platform, and? a transversely running apronbehind-the harvesting'means and over the-support for-.receiving'cut crops from the harvesting means and disposed to convey said-= crops transversely-toward one of -the: supporting wheels, a longitudinal; rearswardly running endless apron disposed adjacent and laterally inside the' aforesaid; supporting; wheelto receive crops fromthefirstapron and arranged with its uppenrun'passing' overand rear-weirdly of the torsional-support anddts lower run passing below the support; whereby crops willbedischarged over the support and upon the: ground-rearwardly of thesupport 'and lat erally"inside' said supporting wheel 3.- In a harvester: a pair oftransverselyspacedsupporting wheels; a transverse harvester platform, including harvesting means, disposed: ahead ofthe" wheels; a transversely disposed torsional-support carried by. the wheels; and means mounting the platform on the support substantially equidistant between its transverse sides, whereby it is torsionally balancedwith re lation to the support.

4i In a-harvester': a pair of transverselyspaced supporting wheels; a transverseharvester platform, includingharvesting means, disposedahead of the wheels; a transverse torsionalsupport carried'by the wheels anddi'sposed beneath the platform; and means mounting the platform above and in substantially torsioh'eillyb'alanced relation on the support.-

5 In a harvester: a-vpair oftransversely spaced supporting wheel's; a transverse harvester 'platform, including: harvesting means; disposedahead" of the wheels; a transversely disposed torsional support carried by the wheels :1: means mounting the platform on' the support isubstan tially midway of the front andrearsides ofthe platform, whereby it is torsionally balanced with relation to the support; a transversely running apron on the platform to receive cut crops mean from the harvesting means; and longitudinally running means disposedto receive crops from the apron and arranged to discharge said crops over and rearwardly of the support.

6. For a harvester having a transverse, generally horizontal platform, harvesting means ahead of the platform, conveyor means running transversely of the platform to receive cut crops from the harvesting means and to convey said crops toward one side of the platform and to discharge said crops thereat, and a transverse support at the rear of and generally in the horizontal plane of the platform: means for receiving crops from the conveyor means, comprising a first roller rotatable on a transverse axis adjacent the harvestin means and at the discharge end of the conveyor means, a second roller rotatably carried by the support at the rear thereof on an axis paralleling that of the first roller, and an endless aprontrained about the rollers with the support between the upper and lower runs thereof.

a 7. In a harvester: a pair of ground wheels; a transverse platform structure carried by the wheels; harvesting means ahead of the platform structure; transversely running conveyor means behind the harvesting means to receive crops from the harvesting means and comprising a pair of transversely spaced, longitudinally disposed rollers and an endless apron trained thereabout; a transverse support at the rear of the platform structure; a rearwardly running conveyor means disposed to receive crops from the first conveyor means and comprising front and rear transversely disposed rollers and an endless apron trained thereabout; means mounting the rear of said rollers on the transverse support; power transmission means carried by the platform structure; drive means connecting a ground wheel and the transmission means; a drive shaft generally paralleling the transverse support and connecting the transmission means and the rear roller of the second conveyor means; and drive means connecting the transmission means and one of the rollers of the first conveyor means.

8. In a harvester: a pair of ground wheels; a transverse platform structure carried by the wheels; harvesting means ahead of the platform structure; transversely running conveyor means behind the harvesting means to receive crops from the harvesting means and including a longitudlnal shaft projecting at the rear of the platform structure; a rearwardly running conveyor means disposed to receive crops from the first conveyor means and including a shaft at the rear of the platform structure; power transmission means carried by the platform structure; drive means connecting a ground wheel and the transmission means; and a pair of drive shafts at the rear of and paralleling the platform structure and connecting the transmission means and the aforesaid conveyor means shafts.

9. For a harvester having a pair of transversely spaced supporting wheels, a transversely disposed torsional support carried by the wheels, a platform mounted substantially centrally thereof on said torsional support, harvesting means on the forward end of the platform, and a transversely running apron behind the harvesting means and over the support for receiving cut crops from the harvesting means and disposed to convey said crops transversely toward one of the supporting wheels, a longitudinal, rearwardly running endless apron disposed adjacent and laterally inside the aforesaid supporting wheel to receive crops from the first apron and arranged to feed over and rearwardly of the torsional support, whereby crops will be discharged over the support and upon the ground rearwardly of the support and laterally inside said supporting wheel.

10. In a harvester: a pair of transversely spaced supporting wheels; a transverse harvester platform, including harvesting means; a transversely disposed torsional support carried by the wheels; and means mounting the platform on the support substantially equidistant between its transverse sides, whereby it is torsionally balanced with relation to the support.

11. In a harvester: a pair of transversely spaced supporting wheels; a transverse harvester platform, including harvesting means; a transversely disposed torsional support carried by the Wheels; means mounting the platform on the support substantially midway of the front and rear sides of the platform, whereby it is torsionally balanced with relation to the support; a transversely running apron on the platform to receive cut crops from the harvesting means; and longitudinally running endless conveyor means disposed to re-- ceive crops from the transversely running apron and constructed and arranged to discharge said crops over and rearwardly of the support.

12. In a harvester having a pair of transversely spaced supporting wheels, a transversely disposed tube carried by the wheels, a platform substantially torsionally balanced on said tube, harvesting means on the forward end of said platform, a transversely running cut-crop endless conveyer positioned behind said harvesting means, and a longitudinally extending rearwardly running endless conveyer positioned at one end of said transversely running conveyer, whereby the cut crops are received and carried rearwardly by the rearwardly running conveyer.

13. In a harvester having a pair of transversely spaced supporting wheels, a transversely disposed tube carried by the wheels, a platform torsionally carried by said tube, harvesting means on the forward end of said platform, a transversely running cut-crop endless conveyer positioned behind said harvesting means, and a longitudinally extending rearwardly running endless conveyer positioned at one end of said transversely running conveyer, the upper flight of said rearwardly running conveyer positioned above said tube and the lower flight of said rearwardly running conveyer positioned below said tube, whereby the cut crops are received and carried rearwardly by the upper flight of the rearwardly running conveyer.

ARNOLD E. W. JOHNSON. HELMA KATHERINE CRUMB, Administratria: of the Estate of Charles F. Crumb,

Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 796,268 Troeger Aug. 1, 1905 2,281,059 Anderson et al Apr. 28, 1942 2,320,134 Huddle May 25,1943 

